Motor sleigh



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T. RHOADES.

MOTOR SLHGH. APPucAloN FMD was, :92u

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

SSHlzLlS-SHEET l.

la l 11 40 j mvENToR Thomas Rhoades T. HHUADES.

MOTOR SLEIGH.

APPUMHUN min Auge. 192x.

Patented Mar. 14, 1922 3 SHtlSSHEET 2.

mamas RS,

T. RHADES.

MUTUH SLEEGH. APPLlcAHoN mw Amm w21.

nA 2. 93 1T ,E 4M 1% Zw mi r1.: BM d3 m m D1 INVENToR 0a' Rhoades Thom fr ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS RHODES, 0F HANNA, UTAH, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-FOURTH T0 THOMAS WILLI RHOADEB AND ONE-FOURTH T0 FRANK CHIARELLI, BOTH 0F HANNA, UTAH.

moron sminm.`

Patented Mar. 14, 1922.

Application ma .mgm s, 1921. serial No. 490,242.

To all whom i# may concern.'

.I e it knownfthat I, THOMAS RHoAnEs, a citizen of theUnited States, residing' at Hanna, in the county of Duchesne and State.

ot' Utah, have invented a new and useful Motor Sleigh, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in that class of automobile vehicles in which the propelling elements are particularly designed for drivin the vehicle over snow and ice, and primarily my invention has for its purpose to provide a vehicle of v hicle.

Another object of my invention is to provide a motor sleigh ot that type whose traction elements are in the nature of cylin drical cores or drums having* helical projee-tions or tread flanges that cause the vehicle to advance as power is applied to the.

said cores or drums from a motor engine mounted upon the vehicle.

Again my invention vomprehends` in a motor sleigh of the general type referred to. lsimple and easily applied means for conveniently raising and lowering the traction elements or propellers It virions heights to suit the character of the surface over which the sleigh may he traveling.

Furthermore. my invention seeks to provide.r in a motor vehicle of the kind mentioned` an impmved construction of propeller in which the traction or helical ribs are esperialijv designed for clearing themselves as the)A` rut through the snow. to prevent cloggingor batting up the said traction elements.

'With the ahoriund other objects in view, that will he hereinafter apparent and incidentally referred to, my invention comprehends an improved motor sleigh that embodies the. peculiar features of construction and arrangement of parts, all of which Will be fully explained in the following detailed description, specifically stated in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which 1-7 Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a motor sleigh constructed in accordance with my invention and taken particularly on the line 1-1 on Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a top plan thereof.

F ifrure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3 3 on Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the front runner or sled member, the front end of the main frame and the cooperating ends of the vertically adjustable and motor mechanism carrying frame, heilig omitted to more clearlyv illustrateA the steering mechanism.

Figure is a diagrammatic side elevation of the main frame. the vertically svingable frame that pivotally joins with the rear runner yor sled member. the supplemental or power mechanism supporting frame and simulta neons vertical adjustment of the snpplemental trame.

Figure (3 is a detail view that illustrates one of the anti-skid devices mounted on the front runner and hereina ter referred t0.

, Figure 7 is a plan view of one of the fan shaped oscillatable gear segments that constitutes part of the steering mechanism, the cap member that tits over the ball bearing socket thereof beingr also illustrated.

Figure S is a detail side elevation' of the front runner. the front end of one of the side hars that hinge to the rear runner, the hinged end of the supplemental or power mechanism carrying frame, and one of the snail sha ed cam devices mounted on the mam frame ar and its cooperating;r roller bearing on the hinge frame bar.

Figure 9 is a plan view of one of the r0- tary propeller drums. n

Figure l0 is a detail side elevation of a brake device that is mounted on, the rear runner and is hereinafter specifically referred to.

In the practical development of my motor sleigh the body of the. sleigh includes fron and rear runners or sled members designated it will be noticed from the drawin the front end of the fore and aft runners, ave a longer curvature than 'the rear ends thereof,

the reason for which is explained as follows. When traveling ahead, the sleigh when breaking a new road needs a longer slo e to the runner at the front than it does at t e back, since the back curve of the runner is only utilized inv backing when the road 'is always broken., By having the. longer curve at the front end it facilitates breaking a new road through the soft snow as it provides for coming forward with the sled with greater speed.

The rear sled member 2 has its runners 20 fixedly attached to a pair of side bars that are hereinafter termed 'the main framebars 3-3. The said main frame barsl 3-3 extend forwardly, bridge the gap between the front and rear sleds and are loosely supported upon thetop bars 10-10 ofthe front y sled, the said bars 10-10 each having a ful-v crum connection with the main fame bars 3 through bearing sockets 4t) that constitute parts of the segmental ear members 4, presently further explains and one of which is fixedly attached to each top bar 10 midway 5 5 designate cap members that are lixedly secured on the under side of the forward ends of the bar 3 and which engage the ball bearings 6. in the bearing sockets 40,/

when the parte are assembled for use.

7 7 denote opposite side bars that con stitute a swinging frame, and each of the.

said bars is dis osed along its adjacent side of the front an rear sleds. The front ends of the'said .bars are joined by a cross shaft 70 which journals in bearings 71-471 on the 9 and the front end of each of the side bars has an attached pendent block 71 in which is mounted a roller bearing 72 adapted for enraging a snail shaped adjusting cam 8, as is best shown in Figure 1. A

The rear end of each bar 7 of the swinging frame curves inwardly and carries a ball head 74, and the said hall head engages socket bearings 9 fixedly attached to the upper side of the opposite bars 3-3 of the yrunners 2-2 as is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2. l

A thirdor supplemental frame, which is hereinafter termed the power mechanism carrying frame, cooperates with the main and swinging frames and it consists of two opposite side bars 12-12 whose forward ends are hinged to bearing blocks 75, of

which there is one located near the extreme forwardend of each of the bars?, and the said frame members 12-12 sustaining a Y vertical framing 16-16 which, in practice,

is arranged for supporting the motor engine and the power transmission, diagrammatically indicated at 14 and 15 since, in ractice, the particular form of engine an the power transmission may be varied and arranged to suit the conditions required for 75 transmittingpower to the rotary pro llers or tractor elements hereinafter specifically referred to.

The power mechanism carrying frame, before mentioned, includes a pair of opposite s0 and longitudinally positioned uplri htsr16--` 16, the lower end of each of -w ic .is provided with a horizontal sleeve 17. The said sleeves constitute bearings for the shaft ends 18l of the propeller or traction elements, the 85 construction of which is best shown in F i .ure 9, it being understood one of the said propelling devices is located at each of the opposite sides of the machine so as to utilize the mechanism supporting frame and for holding the machine to travel straight ahead whenthe front and rear lsled runners are held in vertical longitudinal alignment.

As the construction of the two oppositely disposed propellers is alike, a detailed description of one of such ropellers or traci tion elements will suiiice or both.

he propeller consists of an auger shaped body 18, whose opposite ends taper, the taper of the forwardend being more gradual than that of the rear end so as Ato facilitate the entrance of the propeller into soft snow.

The propeller body is equip ed with an auger shaped or helical radially projected ,rib or traction flange 19 with the Harige 19 105 on the op osite propellers, arranged as right and left t ireads (see Figure 2) so as to make the traction ull straight, which would not be the case i the tractor flanges were in the samedirection on both propeller cores or H0' drums..

The shafts 18 on the propeller bodies each have a driving gear 23 to which motion is applied through fa transmission chain 24 that takes over the opposite gears 23-23 on 115 D j crank actuated shaft 4G that journals in the arch or cross frame portion 42 of the main frame 3. it being understood, that by turning the wheel 46" in the desired direction` the front runner can be readily guided to the the left, the rear runner, owing right or to which are iixedly atto the main frame bars tached thereto, being fulcrumed at their front end on the to bars 10-10 of the front runner, the rear s ed or runner will travel along in the same direction with the front sled or runner.

27--27 designate a pair of anti-skid or brake shoes, one of which is a )plied to each front sled runner, and each o the said shoe members 27 is formed of a substantially crescent shaped metal plate that has vertical movement within a longitudinal slot 28 in the runner to which it is applied and to whch its front end is pivoted as indicated at 9.

Therear end of each of the anti-skid menhcrs'27 is attached to a lifting rod 31 whose upper end proiecs above the sled frame in convenient reach of the operator that controls the steering wheel, and to pro vide against friction of the 'anti-skid adjusting means with the snow as the sled is drawn along, the rods 3l are )assed u through the tubular clamping ro s that old the sled niemlpers and their attached frames together, as is Yclearl y indicated in igure 3.

,Tile members 27 are used to prevent skidding when the sleigh is running on ice or crossing roads.

As before noted, the hinged frame supports the supplemental power mechanism o'rting frame and to provide for quickly the hinge frame whereby toY adjust the traction functions of the propellers the small shaped cam devices 8, heretofore nien tionel are provided.

There are two cam devices 8 and they are rigidly attached to a cross shaft 8U that is jonrnaled in suitable bearings 81 on the forward end of the main frame bars 3-1-3 and the said cams 8 are so located alongv the shaft 8l) that the ball bearings on the under side of the outer ends of the hinge bar 7 normallyrest thereon, as is clearly shown in Fi re 1.

y providing the cam devices for engaging the swinging bars 77. as shown, it is obvious that by applying a suitable crank to one end of the shaft the cams 8 can be turned to raise and lower the swinging frame bars 7-v-7 at will, and since the supplemental frame that supports the power mcclninism is mounted on the bars of the supplemental frame it follows that in raising and lowering the bars 77 the frame that carries the pro iellers is likewise raised and lowered.

o keep the supplemental frame on a level with the main frame bars 3-3 and conscnuent uniform trai-tive connection along the ull length of the propellers when they are at their operative or propellingr adjustmcnt. or wheny lifted out of tractivc connection with the surfaces over which the sleigh may be traveling, automatically operating settlng means is provided for raising or lowering the front or free end of the supplemental arm as its' rear or hinge portion is bein r raised or lowere by actuating the snai sha ed cams 8, as efore stated. 'I0 o such end, a cross rod 34 is journaled in suitable bearings 5-35 on the under face of the free ends o the frame bars 12--12 of 'the said supplemental arm. Each end of the lod 34 carries a s "ur wheel 36 and each s ur 75 wheel meshes wit i a segmental rack 37 xedly attached totheir respective swinging bars 7 and the rod 34 also carries a pair of snail shaped cams BFL-38 upon which rest the ball bearing equipped ends of the hinge so side bars of the supplemental frame, as shown.

lt will be apparent by referring t0 Figure i. due to the connection of the outer ends of the suplrlclnental frame arms with the u swinging arms 7-7, as stated and shown, that as the said arms 7-7 are raised by suitable turning of the shaft 80 that carries the cams 8 the froa'teniis of the arms 7--7 will be lifted and since the rear end of the go supplemental frame is hingedly connected with the said arms 7-7 at the front ends thereof it follows that that end of the said supplemental trame is raised up with th arms 7--7 and as the said arms 7--7 a 'Herat/ed, as stated. their movement auto matically effects the ad'ustxnent of the rea or free cnd of the supp emental frame sino the segment racks 37-37 meshing with th ooengaging spur wheels 36rlti will tu the rod 34 with the cams 38 and thereb cause the said cams 38 to turn in accord with the turning ot' the other cams 8 and thereby eti'cct the lifting oi the rear or free end ofl the snpplcmental frame simultaneously 106 with the lifting of the front or hinged endl ot' the `said frame. as stated.

To. brace the fr t runner, a series ofi, transverse rods 3939 are provided. and each of the said rods has its opposite endsll terminate in eyes for conveniently folding the opfmsitc ends of the said brace rodsto the opposite top members 10 of the runners.

Une of the rods 39 is provided with a central aperture that serves to brace the rod on thc central gear of the steering mechanism.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. the complete construction. the manner in which the parts are asx-sembled for use and the advantages of my invention. .-it is lieved. will hc readily understood by those familial' with the construction and use of inventions in the line'to which my inven- 126 tion belongs.

By reason ot' connecting thc several parte' that constitute my invention, as shown and described, a simple lover applied to the cam shaft 8() will quickly raise or lower the hinge 180 frame. the adjustment of the power mechanism frame beingir automatically effected as the main frame is raised or lowered in the manner clearly understood, it being apparent that when raising the extreme free end (gf thwhinge frame the said end of the 'frame is raised and lowered at a greater proportionV of speed than the speed at its center or atjits rear end and since the supplemental frame is hinged at its forward end to the hinge frame it follows that its rear or free end is automatieallly raised and' lowered through the up and down motions ot' the side arms 7, their segmental racks and the spur gear connections.

In my construction of motor sleigh, when my propellers are properly ruiming they make a threadway in the snow and ice, the helical flanges thereof always clearing themselves,r and preventing clorgin i.

If it is desired, a ira e tevice may be used at the extreme end of the rear runners, which device consists of a pivoted bra-ke lever 53 that is pivoted to the side of the rear runner with the upper end thereof projected through a slot in the rear end of the adjacent arm 3, means being provided for tclmating` the brake levers 53 from the supplemental or mechanism .carrying frame.

h e brake mechanism just referred to may beaomitted, if desired. Y

W'hat I claim is:

i. 1; In a motor sleigh, front and back runners, a main frame supported by the rear runners and upon which the front runner has aiirelatively rotar movement, means mounted upon the sait frame for steering the front runner, a swinging frame that includes opposite side bars rigidly connected at their rear ends to the main frame to swing `vertically with respect to the said main frame, a supplemental frame carried on the said swinging frame and adapted to swing vertically with respect to the said swinging frame,iground engaging propellers and a power mechanism in connection with the propellers supported upon the supplemental frame, and means for effecting siinultane ous` vertical adjustment of the swinging frame and the supplemental t'rame upon which the power mechanism and the propellers are supported.

.i 2. In a motor sleigh, front and back runners, a main frame supported by the rear runner and upon which the front runner has a relatively rotary movement, means 1nounted on the main frame for effecting rotative movement of the front runner for steering. a supplemental frame carried on the main frame, a pair of longitudinally and oppositely disposed ground engaging propellers supported on the supplemental frame, connections that operatively join the propellers with the driving power mounted on the supplemental frame, and manually adinstable means for raising and lowering the suiplemental frame that carries the prope lers and the driving mechanism.l

3. In a motor sleigh, front and back runf ners, `frame bars rigidly mounted on the back runners and projected over the front runners operative connections for steering the front runners that joins the said front runners and the rigidi projected frame bars, a pair of oppositely isposed vertically swin able frame bars hingedly attached at their rear ends to the opposite sides of the rear runners, a supplemental frame supported by the last mentioned frame bars, driving and propelling mechanism mounted on the said supplemental frame, the supplemental frame being hingedly mounted at its front end relatively to the front end of the vertically swingable side bars, means for simultaneousl y raising and lowering the front and rear ends of the supplemental frame.

4. In a motor sleigh, front and back runners, frame bars rigidly mounted on the` back runner and projected over the front runner, operative connections for steering 90 the front runner that joins the said front runner and the rigidly projected frame bars, a supplemental frame supported by the ri id frame bars, driving and propellin mec anism mounted on the said supp emental frame, the said supplemental frame being hingedly mounted at its front end relativel to the front end of the main frame' an meansA for simultaneously raising and lowering the front and rear ends of the supplemental frame. g

5. In a motor sleigh of the character ddscribed, the combination with the opposite runners of a sled; of an anti-skid shoe'ior. ach runner, the said runners each having a longitudinal slot-way in which their respective shoes are received and are adapted for being projected below thetread face of the runner, each attached anti-skid shoe or member being pivotally joined at the front end to their respective runners, and a lifting rod attached to the rear end of each shoe for manipulating the shoes vertically through the runner body-` the said rod being incased within the sled framing and having its u per end projected above the sled as set fort (i. In a motor sleigh, the combination of a front and rear sled, a main frame comprising a pair of opposing side frames iXedIy secured to the top of the opposite runners of the rear sled and projected forwardly over the front sled, operating connections for steering the front sled joined with the front sled and the projected ends of theside arms of the rigid frame, a second pair of opposite side frames hingedly connected to the rear sled and projected forwardly along the main frame side arms and joined by a front cross member, a supplemental frame that supports the motor, and propelling mecharsis leo

los

nism, seid supplemental frame being hingedly connected to' the front cross member of the aforesaid hinged arms, and lneani for elevating the hinged and supplemental frames and sustaining them at their vertical adjustments.

7. In a motor sleigh, the combination of a front and rear sled, a main frame comprisingr a pair of opposing side arms tixedly cured to the top of the opposite runners of the rear sled and projected forwardly over the front sled, operating connections for steering thetront sled Ijoined Witlfthe front sled and the projected ends of the side arms of the rigid trame. a. seeond pair of opposite side frames hinge-dlt' ronneeted to the rear sled and rejected. forwardly along themain frame si e arms and joined by a front cross member, u supplemental frame that supports the motor and propelling mernanism, seid supplemental trame being hi godly eonnected to the front cross niradier of the aforesaid hinged arms, means *wr elevating' the hinged and supplemental V'riunes and sustaining them at their ri i l Teal adj ustments, the said means incl*I 'ngi a rotary cross shaft mounted on the n frame arms and rams on the shaft ador* engaging the outer ends of the hin;rk

ln a motor sleigh. tll-` ro...fxnation of a front and n rear sled a main frame ronr prising a pair of opposite side frames tixedly secured to the top of the opposite rnnners ol the rear sled, and projected for wardly over the front sled, operative vormertions for steering the front sled joined with said front sled and the projet-ted ends of the side arms ot' the main i ie, a second pair of opposite side arms lfugedly eonneeted at their rear ends to the rear sled. a Cross memlier that joins the front ends ot' the said setay ond pair of side arms, a supplemental trarnef upon which the motor and the propelling? mechanism is mounted, thel said supplemental frame being,` hingedly connected to the front cross member that joins the front ends of the said second pair'of side arms and means for elevating the hinged and supplemental frames and for sustaining them at their vertieal adjustments 9. A motor driven sleigh comprising a. front and rear sled` side arms hingedly con neeted to the top of the runners of the rear sled and projet-ted horizontally forward over the front sled, operative connections joined with the side frame arms and the front sled for steering the, said front sled, a hinged frame that eons'i'lsts olif pairof oppositely disposed side arms. eat-h of which is hinged to its respective Side of the back sled to swing in the vertical plane, a supplemental frame "inelnding opposite' side arms hingedly joined at the front ends to thet'ront ends of the hinged arms, a motor` and propelling mechanism cooperative with the motor mounted upon the supplemental frame. a erank actuated shaft transversely journalled on the front e'nds of the main frame arms. cams on the front shaft upon which the front ends of! the` hinge arms rest, another shaft journalled across the main traines side arms, euros on the seid other shaft on which the rear ends of the side arms of the supplemental frame resta a segment reel: on ear-h side trame, gears on the said other shaft that mesh with the aforesaid segment gears and adapted, as thea` hinged arms are raised under cam action on` their return ends, to rotate the gear carrying shaft. rams on the last mentioned shaft that engage the side arms ofthe supplemen` tal trame and adapted to raise the rear end ot' the said supplemental. frame with its attached motor and propelling mechanism. i

THOMAS RHOADES. 

